I SHOULD HAVE BEEN A COWBOY. CAN YOU BELIEVE IT? IT’S BEEN ONE YEAR. ONE YEAR AGO TODAY, WELL KNOWN OKLAHOMA COUNTRY MUSIC LEGEND TOBY KEITH DIED. SEVERAL ACCOUNTS POSTING ON X REMEMBERING HIM, INCLUDING HIS OWN SAYING WE KNOW HE WOULD BE PROUD OF THE LEGACY HE LEFT BEHIND. AND OU ATHLETIC DIRECTOR JOE CASTIGLIONE SAYING HIS MUSIC WILL ALWAYS PLAY ON, BUT SO WILL HIS LEGACY OF POSITIVELY IMPACTING OUR WORLD THROUGH ALL THE WAYS HE INVESTED IN PEOPLE AND THEIR BEST INTERESTS. BOB STOOPS AS WELL, SAYING ONLINE WE ALL MISS OUR BIG BROTHER, THE BIG DOG DADDY. HE LIVED A BIG LIFE WITH BIG FAIT
Wednesday marks one year since death of country music and Oklahoma legend Toby Keith
On Feb. 5, 2024, Keith died peacefully while surrounded by his family after a multi-year battle with stomach cancer.
Updated: 5:28 PM CST Feb 5, 2025
Wednesday marks one year since Oklahoma and country music legend Toby Keith died at the age of 62. On Feb. 5, 2024, Keith died peacefully while surrounded by his family after a multi-year battle with stomach cancer. “He fought his fight with grace and courage,” Keith’s official Facebook account posted on Feb. 6, 2024. An outpouring of support from Oklahomans, state leaders and the country music world came in immediately after the news of Keith’s death broke. “Toby worked very hard to make a mark in the country music business, and he did a great job doing that,” Reba McEntire said following Keith’s death. “Very proud of him, and I hope he rests in peace. I was very honored to get to work with Toby and be a part of the era of country music he was in. We’ll sure miss him.” Video Below: Listen to Reba McEntire talk about Toby Keith following his death in 2024. Click here for more. Oklahomans and the music world have honored Keith in the past year. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, honored and remembered at various awards shows – including the Grammys, the ACM Awards, and CMA Awards – and the University of Oklahoma added a tradition of playing “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue” during football games.Video Below: Oklahoma legend Toby Keith inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Click here to learn more. Keith was born on July 8, 1961, in Clinton, and he and his family moved to Moore when he was young. He graduated from Moore High School in 1979 and went on to work in the oil fields before playing semiprofessional football for the Oklahoma City Drillers. In the mid-1980s, Keith was focused on music and traveled a bar circuit through the region with his Easy Money Band. He played small venues until a 1993 debut album featured “Should’ve Been a Cowboy,” which turned into a No. 1 country song. Video Below: Fans celebrate late country music icon Toby Keith during Sooners opening game. Click here for more.The singer was known for songs like “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue,” “Should’ve Been a Cowboy,” “I Love This Bar,” “Cryin’ for Me,” “How Do You Like Me Now?!,” “I Wanna Talk About Me” and “Red Solo Cup.” Many of Keith’s songs reflected his upbringing and perception of Oklahoma culture. Throughout his fame, the country music superstar made Oklahoma his headquarters and lived near Moore. Video Below: Luke Bryan honors country music legend during OKC concert. Click here to learn more.By the end of 2011, Keith had 20 No. 1 Billboard Country hits. He earned numerous awards and honors from the Academy of Country Music – including Entertainer of the Year in 2002 and 2003 – the Country Music Awards, American Music Awards, the People’s Choice Awards and the Nashville Songwriters Association International Awards. Keith was a diehard University of Oklahoma fan, often appearing on the sidelines of football games and other sporting events. Through the OKC Kids Korral, Keith and his foundation have helped children and their families as the child receives cancer treatment. Shortly after his death, the Toby Keith Foundation hit a record-high for donations. Top Headlines Oklahoma State University A&M Board of Regents accepts President Kayse Shrum’s resignation One person killed in crash involving semi-trailer on Kilpatrick Turnpike Oklahoma releases plan to deport undocumented immigrants as part of Operation Guardian VIDEO: Man rescued after sinking waist-deep in mud while walking dog Police identify shooting victim who died after crashing into southwest OKC church
Wednesday marks one year since Oklahoma and country music legend Toby Keith died at the age of 62.
On Feb. 5, 2024, Keith died peacefully while surrounded by his family after a multi-year battle with stomach cancer.
“He fought his fight with grace and courage,” Keith’s official Facebook account posted on Feb. 6, 2024.
An outpouring of support from Oklahomans, state leaders and the country music world came in immediately after the news of Keith’s death broke.
“Toby worked very hard to make a mark in the country music business, and he did a great job doing that,” Reba McEntire said following Keith’s death. “Very proud of him, and I hope he rests in peace. I was very honored to get to work with Toby and be a part of the era of country music he was in. We’ll sure miss him.”
Video Below: Listen to Reba McEntire talk about Toby Keith following his death in 2024. Click here for more.
Oklahomans and the music world have honored Keith in the past year. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, honored and remembered at various awards shows – including the Grammys, the ACM Awards, and CMA Awards – and the University of Oklahoma added a tradition of playing “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue” during football games.
Video Below: Oklahoma legend Toby Keith inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Click here to learn more.
Keith was born on July 8, 1961, in Clinton, and he and his family moved to Moore when he was young. He graduated from Moore High School in 1979 and went on to work in the oil fields before playing semiprofessional football for the Oklahoma City Drillers.
In the mid-1980s, Keith was focused on music and traveled a bar circuit through the region with his Easy Money Band. He played small venues until a 1993 debut album featured “Should’ve Been a Cowboy,” which turned into a No. 1 country song.
Video Below: Fans celebrate late country music icon Toby Keith during Sooners opening game. Click here for more.
The singer was known for songs like “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue,” “Should’ve Been a Cowboy,” “I Love This Bar,” “Cryin’ for Me,” “How Do You Like Me Now?!,” “I Wanna Talk About Me” and “Red Solo Cup.”
Many of Keith’s songs reflected his upbringing and perception of Oklahoma culture. Throughout his fame, the country music superstar made Oklahoma his headquarters and lived near Moore.
Video Below: Luke Bryan honors country music legend during OKC concert. Click here to learn more.
By the end of 2011, Keith had 20 No. 1 Billboard Country hits. He earned numerous awards and honors from the Academy of Country Music – including Entertainer of the Year in 2002 and 2003 – the Country Music Awards, American Music Awards, the People’s Choice Awards and the Nashville Songwriters Association International Awards.
Keith was a diehard University of Oklahoma fan, often appearing on the sidelines of football games and other sporting events.
Through the OKC Kids Korral, Keith and his foundation have helped children and their families as the child receives cancer treatment. Shortly after his death, the Toby Keith Foundation hit a record-high for donations.
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